Nova thoughts

[mileskishnish72]

Frustrating. All the years we have been so undersized, now we have a couple of legit bigs and can't seem to utilize them well. How does Luke go a whole game and get 2 boards? Don't see how a college program can have much success in this day and age without using the 3 as a weapon. Arrrgh.

[brandx]

Our SG (Duane) needs to make some shots. Worst shooting % on team among guys playing over 10 minutes a game except for Traci.

[brewcity77]

'Nova went zone to keep us out of the lane because we were killing them there. Good adjustment on their part. We played well and just didn't have enough at the end. Some poor finishing, and once the inside got shut off, our guys got frustrated and jacked ill-chosen threes. Still, they fought back well in the first half. This team is still far from a finished product. We could very well beat 'Nova when they come to the BC next month.

[WarriorFan]

My Thoughts:
- It took a bit of Philly home cookin' to bring out the Traci Carter we want and need.  Nice to see him assert himself.  He needs to play at this level for the remainder of the season.
- The rest of the team didn't know how to react to the more active Traci.
- No idea what happened mid way through 2nd half.  Down 5, playing OK, Ochefu out... never was there a greater opportunity to take over the game but the whole team (and apparently the whole coaching staff) simultaneously lost the plot and played 10 minutes of the worst basketball of the year.  ???
- I have a new least favorite ref now that Jim Burr is gone.  In fact, the whole crew was pretty sloppy.  Henry's charge in the first half (which should have been a no-call) - the ref was signaling before there was even contact!

We were not supposed to win this one, but to play as well as we did in the first half and follow it with the worst play of the year in the 2nd half is disappointing. 

[Mutaman]

- I have a new least favorite ref now that Jim Burr is gone.  In fact, the whole crew was pretty sloppy.  Henry's charge in the first half (which should have been a no-call) - the ref was signaling before there was even contact!

Officiating in the new Big east is as bad as it was in the old Big East and that's saying something. Main problem- most of these guys seem to think we pay to see them.

[Dr. Blackheart]

MU is the worst offense in Big East.  Needs major change up and is in need of identity.

[MUsoxfan]

We have two really, really tall forwards constantly  hanging out on the perimeter, with one indiscriminately chucking up 3's. That's a big problem, in my opinion

[MUfan12]

We have two really, really tall forwards constantly  hanging out on the perimeter, with one indiscriminately chucking up 3's. That's a big problem, in my opinion

I don't mind the high screening action with Luke, but Henry's freelancing really kills the flow of the offense.

[CTWarrior]

We have guards who can penetrate and bigs who can finish, but we rarely drive and dish.  We should be doing that all the time.  Cheatham and Carter look a little better every game.

We are very close to being quite good.  The players just need to understand what their strengths are a little better.  I agree that Henry does not look like he is running the same offense as everyone else.

[WarriorPride68]

I wish Fischer (5/6) & Cheatham (4/14) would have flipped shot attempts tonight. Still not sure how Luke only grabbed 2 boards

[MUfan12]

I wish Fischer (5/6) & Cheatham (4/14) would have flipped shot attempts tonight. Still not sure how Luke only grabbed 2 boards

He was constantly being moved off his spots, even by guards. Just isn't physical enough.

[WarriorPride68]

He was constantly being moved off his spots, even by guards. Just isn't physical enough.

Completely agree. Especially with Ochefu out for such a long period of time, there were rebounds to be had.

[#UnleashSean]

Other random thoughts

-  It's been about 4 seasons since Marquette has had a good outside shooter.

Carlino?

[#UnleashSean]

Also what is Wally's +-? It has to be massive. He was in during the big comeback, and barley saw him in 2nd half.

[We R Final Four]

Each Jay Wright opponent coach not to mention every fan base has said to themselves---we've got bigs they are playing with four guards right now this is our time to exploit their weaknesses.
Guess what? Another Nova victory.
Nova in no way will be able to compete with the size of Georgetown. 

[warriorfred]

Carlino?

The offense with Carlino was brutal for much of last season.  With teams playing-off Derrick Wilson it was effectively 4 on 5.  Unfortunately, Carlino was not given the space.  Sometimes he would go off, but most of the time he was effectively neutralized ( I watched a replay of his winning shot against Creighton and he's shooting over/around 2 defenders).

But you do raise a good point, it would be nice to have Carlino on this year's team.

[tower912]

I don't understand the negativity.   Villanova is ranked where they are for a reason.    They were playing in a building where they haven't lost for years.  MU played their best 10 minutes of the year.    MU isn't experienced enough and doesn't have enough weapons to expect to beat Villanova in Philly.  It's ok to root for the upset (or the powerball win) but there is no reason to beat this team up when the game ended pretty much like everyone expected.   MU played hard.   They did some good things.  In the end, 'Nova was better.   What more does anyone expect?

[RushmoreAcademy]

I don't understand the negativity.   Villanova is ranked where they are for a reason.    They were playing in a building where they haven't lost for years.  MU played their best 10 minutes of the year.    MU isn't experienced enough and doesn't have enough weapons to expect to beat Villanova in Philly.  It's ok to root for the upset (or the powerball win) but there is no reason to beat this team up when the game ended pretty much like everyone expected.   MU played hard.   They did some good things.  In the end, 'Nova was better.   What more does anyone expect?

Well said.  I feel mostly positive about the game.  They are the older and better team, but we put up a fight against them.
It's shocking that there is so much negativity on an internet message board...... I never thought I'd live to see the day.

[tower912]

http://espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400840287

Box score.

[warriorchick]

I blame ChiTown for calling "dagger" with ten minutes left in the game and us being only nine points behind.

Totally jinxed us.

[MUfan12]

I don't understand the negativity.   Villanova is ranked where they are for a reason.    They were playing in a building where they haven't lost for years.  MU played their best 10 minutes of the year.    MU isn't experienced enough and doesn't have enough weapons to expect to beat Villanova in Philly.  It's ok to root for the upset (or the powerball win) but there is no reason to beat this team up when the game ended pretty much like everyone expected.   MU played hard.   They did some good things.  In the end, 'Nova was better.   What more does anyone expect?

Agreed.

I thought they showed good improvement when it came to turnovers and rebounding.

MU settled for jumpers and they weren't falling. That's fixable.

[avid1010]

my thought was the story of the night is really too many fouls on mu...and too many free throws for nova.

i'm sure wojo would have liked to have gone inside a little more, but MU is having a hard time feeding the post because luke plays weak and because teams aren't worried about MU hitting 3's. 

fischer's rebounds concern me...not sure how he's not picking up some points off of offensive rebounds...especially against teams like nova and st. johns.  a handful of rebounds a game from our center isn't going to cut it, and while i see this year as a building year, i worry that his growth is limited.  i can see development in our guards that gets me excited for the next few years...all could be lost if we have nothing reliable down low after HE leaves.

[LAMUfan]

the flagrant on Carter was for the high elbow right?  not the ninja kick? If that kick was on purpose he should look at a career in the UFC

[MUfan12]

the flagrant on Carter was for the high elbow right?  not the ninja kick? If that kick was on purpose he should look at a career in the UFC

It was on the kick.

[GGGG]

I don't understand the negativity.   Villanova is ranked where they are for a reason.    They were playing in a building where they haven't lost for years.  MU played their best 10 minutes of the year.    MU isn't experienced enough and doesn't have enough weapons to expect to beat Villanova in Philly.  It's ok to root for the upset (or the powerball win) but there is no reason to beat this team up when the game ended pretty much like everyone expected.   MU played hard.   They did some good things.  In the end, 'Nova was better.   What more does anyone expect?

Exactly.  I also don't understand the coaching comments regarding the second half.  Yes the offense was jacking up too many threes.  Wojo wasn't doing that.  The players were.  To me that is an experience and toughness issue.  Jacking up threes is the easy thing to do.  It is what Nova wanted us to do.  Driving the ball...penetrating the zone...that is hard work against an experienced team. 

I actually came away from that game fairly encouraged.  A month ago we got shredded by an experienced Iowa team on our home court.  Last night we were within a basket of a top ten team on the road with about 10 minutes to go in the game.  A game that included an impressive first half comeback that could have gone the other way and lead to Iowa, Part 2.

That's growth.  That's what you want to see.  I hope we have a nice big crowd for Xavier Saturday because if they can string together two halves like the first half, they will win that game.